Panama Canal on Zuiderdam

[kaylasnana]

I'm seriously thinking about doing the 10 day Panama Canal on the Zuiderdam out of Fort Lauderdale next October. I realize that it is only a partial Panama Canal transit but this is the max number of days I can take at once. Can someone that has taken this cruise recently let me know what they thought?

[BillB48]

Even though I originally posted this on the Princess board, I think it addresses your question as well...

 

I am sure most people would recommend a full transit over the partial transit, but when you do have time off considerations the partial transit is an excellent compromise. In fact it may have an advantage… the partial transit cruise gives you a chance to pass through the locks with two different perspectives. First in the morning going through Gatun Locks on your Panamax ship and then later in the day going through the Locks on the Pacific side on the smaller vessel. From the smaller vessel you will get to see things up close and get a feel for just how big the locks actually are. Often times when you are on your large cruise ship, the operation can seem to be a bit remote, the smaller vessel helps tie it all together.

 

Although Gatun Locks are the largest on the Canal and are impressive in their own right, I believe a good deal of the eye candy is on the Pacific Locks and in Gaillard Cut. The "Cut" is where the bulk of the exaction took place but also where you cross the Continental Divide. In the Cut you will get to pass under the newest of the two statley bridges that span the Canal, the other is in the harbor at Balboa.

 

You can consider this a primer course for your class of Canalology 101… seriously if you take this cruise and decide to take a full transit cruise at a later date, the two cruises will compliment each other.

[CruiserBruce]

The first place I would be researching this question would be the HAL board, here:

 

http://boards.cruisecritic.com/forumdisplay.php?f=171

 

The second place would be the Zuiderdam file in the Reviews section, here:

 

http://www.cruisecritic.com/reviews/review_test_b.cfm?utm_expid=68063032-28.L_5y9X6-R_WtE_N_8JYZEA.1&ShipID=266&utm_referrer=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.cruisecritic.com%2Freviews%2F%3Fsrc%3Dnav

[kaylasnana]

Bill - than you so much for the information. I'm a little confused though. I thought we would stay on the same ship (Zuiderdam) for the whole cruise. From what you wrote, it sounds like we would change ships.

[kaylasnana]

thank you Bruce for the information. I had looked at the review board but hadn't gone far enough into it. Plenty of good information once I did.

[cleverdaisies]

Bill - than you so much for the information. I'm a little confused though. I thought we would stay on the same ship (Zuiderdam) for the whole cruise. From what you wrote, it sounds like we would change ships.

 

Hi Kayla!

 

We are actually going on the Zuiderdam on February 3rd for an 11 day partial Panama Canal cruise. I have been doing a ton of research and it sounds like bill is referring to an excursion that you can take.

 

When it's the partial cruise the ship goes into the lake and turns around and comes back. However you can get off the ship and do some excursions at a Gatun lake.

 

There is one excursion that we have been looking into called the Panama Canal experience to Colon where you take a bus ride to a ferry vessel which then takes you through the rest of the canal. I have read that because the boat is so much smaller it really gives you a different experience. Not only that but I've also heard that the Gaillard cut is worth seeing. Once you go through the canal you board a bus and meet the ship at Colon. I'm pretty sure this is what Bill is referring to. Correct me if I am wrong Bill.

 

We are leaving for Ft. Lauderdale on February 1st so I can let you know all about the trip when we return!

Edited December 27, 2013 by cleverdaisies

[BillB48]

Cleverd is right on:). The transit through the Pacific Locks and Gaillard Cut is one the tours you can select after the Z'dam reaches Gatun Lake. On your Canal day you will start into Canal waters rather early in the morning... 5ish... arriving at Gatun Locks a little after sunrise... 6: to 6:30. The entire lockage at Gatun (from arrival to reaching the anchorage in Gatun Lake) can easily run 2.5 to 3 hours. The Gatun Lake anchorage is the jumping off point for all the tours for Panama on this cruise. There are a number of popular tours you can select, the one that will take you through the Pacific Locks and Gaillard Cut is the one HAL calls The Canal Experience to Colon. All of the cruise lines have a slightly different name for this excursion, but here is how it operates. Upon leaving the ship at the GL anchorage you will be taken by bus to the Pacific side where you will board the smaller vessel. Usually they will take you from Balboa through Miraflores and Pedro Miguel Locks, through Gaillard Cut to Gamboa. Depending on Canal traffic they sometimes run the tour from Gamboa to Balboa, no significant difference.

 

While you are out on your excursion the ship will lock back through Gatun Locks and sail to Colon where you will rejoin it. There will be some passengers elect to stay on the ship instead of taking a tour. While it is interesting you really are retracing your footsteps to a certain extent. The combination of your cruise on the Z'dam and the excursion to the Pacific side Locks and Gaillard Cut will give an excellent feel for the Canal.

[cleverdaisies]

Thanks for all of that information Bill. It sounds like that excursion is definitely worth taking? We are still in talks with my mother in law trying to decide but to me this one interests me the most. What is the ferry like? Do they have an open deck where you can appreciate the views? Also my MIL was asking about bathroom breaks. Is there one on the ferry?

[cleverdaisies]

I just found a website on another thread that does the ferry tour but they don't offer tours the day our ship is in. Perhaps this is the one that does Holland's excursion?

 

http://www.pmatours.net/

 

Do you know Bill?

[BillB48]

I just put this link in another thread about Canal transits. This is the company that supplies the partial transit excursion to the cruise lines. There is a description and some pictures of the Pacific Queen, it has all the necessary facilities.

 

http://www.pmatours.net/pacific_queen/

 

Edit: I must have been typing at the same time and yes, they do HAL's Canal trips (and all the others as well.)

Edited December 28, 2013 by BillB48

[cleverdaisies]

Thanks Bill! I didn't even notice that you were the one that posted that link. Too early in the AM ha ha.

 

I will take a look through it. Thanks for the information!

[kaylasnana]

Thanks again Bill and Cleverdaisies. I can't wait for your return and to hear your thoughts.